Ask your Family Dentists : The Proper Way to Disinfect Toothbrushes

Austin, TX – With recent states of emergencies declared about the coronavirus, it is important to know what to do. According to the World Health Organization, and the CDC, our best line of defense against viruses and bacteria are hygiene. Washing our hands, limiting contact with other people are a sure-fire way to containing the spread of the disease. It makes sense because most viruses, including the coronavirus, are spread through direct contact and water particles via coughing and sneezing.

So, with that in mind we need to talk. There is an object in your house that isn’t food that has constant contact with saliva. It does not care if you are sick or healthy and only discriminates based on who touched it last. I am talking about your old toothbrush. The bristles have constant contact with your saliva, bacteria, and it sits at room temperature. This makes it a breeding ground for viruses if they are not regularly cleaned or replaced.

So, we will talk about the importance of toothbrush sanitization and replacement.

How Does Bacteria Grow on my Toothbrush?

While the ADA states that there is not sufficient evidence to prove that bacteria can grow on your toothbrush, some dentists argue that bacterial residue could still sit on the bristles of the brush. Especially if you brush regularly at twice a day. According to spiritdental.com. “Some germs you remove from your mouth through brushing might remain on the brush even after you’ve rinsed it off with water. Bacteria and viruses that could lead to the colds and the flu may make their home on your toothbrush, which is why some experts recommend disinfecting your brush just once a week as a precaution.”

However, it should also be noted that while it might be a good idea to think about disinfecting your toothbrush or replacing it outright after a disease makes its presence known in your house, doing it daily can be a wasted effort. Especially if you try to do it every day.

“Various means of cleaning, disinfecting, or sterilizing toothbrushes between uses have been developed, but no published research documents by dentists have stated that brushing with a contaminated toothbrush has led to recontamination of a user’s mouth, oral infections, or other adverse health effects.

You need not soak toothbrushes in disinfecting solutions or mouthwash, which may spread germs under the right conditions.

You need not use dishwashers, microwaves, or ultraviolet devices to disinfect toothbrushes. These methods may damage the toothbrush.

Avoid covering toothbrushes or storing them in closed containers, which can cause the growth of bacteria.”

So, what should you do to make sure that your toothbrush is free of excess germs? Can you balance the two extremes?

What are Some Basic Toothbrush Hygiene Precautions

Here are a few ways, according to the ADA and CDC, that you can stay on top of toothbrush hygiene.

Don’t share your toothbrush. Duh. You could swap pathogens.

Rinse it well after every use. Wash off any remaining food particles and toothpaste. (We can also personally vouch for the vigorous wrist-flicking method.)

Don’t let anyone else’s toothbrush head touch yours. If you store several toothbrushes in the same holder, the CDC advises not letting the brush heads touch each other.

Replace it at least every three to four months. Toothbrushes become less effective. Swap in a new one before this if the bristles become visibly frayed.

If you want to go the extra mile and sanitize your tooth brush without getting it damaged, you want either

to invest in a sanitation product that relies on dry heat and steam or

invest in a small uv-c light to go over the head of the brush.

Doing these every once a week is not as damaging as doing it every day. While there is no proof on how effective it is on toothbrushes, there is scientific evidence that both high temperatures and ultraviolet light can kill both viruses and bacteria.

If you have bought no sterilizing equipment for your manual toothbrush, then there is always the option of putting them in the dishwasher. The temperature inside a dishwasher is enough to sterilize equipment and will kill most germs that can’t survive that temperature range. Freezing anything won’t work because it only slows down the growth of bacteria, and it will return to growing once it hits the normal temperature range.

If you have any questions regarding dental hygiene or how to keep your toothbrush clean, don’t panic. You can always call your family dentists anytime.

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Beth

Beth S. has been in the dental field for over 15 years. She helps in the front office (insurance claims, answering calls), as well as assists clinically with Drs. Fossum and Tucker. Beth helps make your your appointment is smooth and efficient as possible. Beth enjoys outdoor activities and spending time with her family.

John

John has been a Registered Dental Assistant since 2004 and has been with Austin Family Dentist since late 2016. He enjoys his role in the office helping provide caring and quality dentistry to our patient community. John is here to help w/ any and all questions and to help your dental appointment run smoothly. John enjoys spending time with his wife and 2 children. During some of his free time, he provides meals and dental essentials to the homeless. John is a big Dallas Cowboys fan.

Jill

Jill has been a Registered Dental Assistant since 2006. She worked with Dr. Tucker for 2 years, at another office, before following him to Austin Family Dentist in the fall of 2009. Jill loves to interact with patients and getting to know them on a more personal level. She does her best to make the overall dental experience a positive one. In her free time she loves spending time w/ her family and enjoying all of Austin’s beautiful sights.

Jennifer

Jennifer works the front office at Austin Family Dentist. She has been in the dental field for over 15 years, so ask any questions and she will probably have the answer, or know where to get it. Jennifer has been with Austin Family Dentist since 2008. She enjoys spending her free time her daughter, Amaris. They love to travel together, take lots of pictures, and make memories together.

Ying

Ying is one of our two full time Dental Hygienists. She has been with Austin Family Dentist since November 2015. She is fluent in two languages (Chinese and English) and still knows some Japanese. Ying has a degree in international business, and earned her Registered Dental Hygiene degree from Austin Community College. Ying enjoys traveling, photography, sports, gardening, sewing, and making new friends in Austin. Ying has a gentle touch and is very detail oriented. She strives to make each and every patient have a welcoming, educating, and pleasant experience at Austin Family Dentist.

Shireen

Shireen is one of our two full time hygienists. She grew up on San Antonio where she received her bachelor’s degree in Biology and attended the Health Science Center for Dental Hygiene. In her spare time Shireen enjoys attending concerts (she is a huge music lover). She always enjoys outdoor activities and being with friends.

Melissa

Melissa has been a registered dental assistant since 2010. She is one of the ladies who will be greeting you when you walk in the door. She enjoys working at Austin Family Dentist because she loves working in a fun, friendly, family-oriented atmosphere. Although she is an RDA, she mainly specializes in handling the insurance, scheduling, and treatment coordinating. Melissa enjoys helping patients change their perception of dentistry and restoring smiles inspires her everyday. If you ever have any questions Melissa is here to help answer any and all of your questions.

In her free time, Melissa enjoys being outdoors, trying new foods, cooking, crafting, listening to live music, and most importantly, spending time with her family.

Brent E Fossum

DDS

Dr. Brent Fossum was born and raised in Rapid City, South Dakota, and has lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and several cities in Texas. His extended family includes seven dentists including three brothers in his immediate family, all of whom graduated from the University of Texas Dental Branch in Houston, and three great uncles, also brothers, who graduated from the Chicago College of Dental Surgery, the first being Dr. Albert Fossum, who received his DDS Degree in 1898…

Brian D Tucker
(Owner)

DMD, FAGD (Owner)

Dr. Tucker was born and raised in New Jersey. He received his Baccalaureate of Science in Biology at The College of New Jersey. Dr. Tucker went on to the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey where he received his Dental degree as a Doctor of Medical Dentistry. During his senior year…